Drying apparatus.



J. J. F. BALES. DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATiON FILED MAR. 5. 1914.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. as, iota.

Application filed March 5, 1914. Serial No. 822,650.

To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that l, JEAN demons Feu- NAND BALns, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at T alence, Gironde, in

France, have invented certain new and usesaid chamber, steam pipes being arranged within said chamber opposite the fans for the purpose of heating the inflowing air.

The present invention comprises a drying chamber comprising the above known drying means and especially designed for drying confectionery and .in particular gum lozenges.

In the improved chamber the fans are arranged opposite one another and have a diameter of action extending substantially over the whole hei ht of the chamber so that articles can be e ciently and evenly dried at any point in the chamber, which is of importance in the manufacture of lozenges or pastils as the same can be placed on trays arranged close together and ranging through the entire height of the chamber.

The annexed, drawing illustrates an exam ple of construction of the invention, in which Figure is a front elevation of the ap paratus. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof, and Fig. l a longitudinal section.

The apparatus comprises a chamber constituted by double walls a of wood or other suitable material, between which is a suitable heat insulating material, agglomerated. corlr for example. The chamber has preferably no bottom and rests directly on the ground. A door 6 comprising double walls allows of hermetically closing the chamber, and in the roof is an opening 0 closed by a hollow bung 0 containing an insulating material. llnside and preferably on the lateral walls of the chamber are mounted two ventilating fans a and e which are rotated by means of pulley and belt or other gearing ,2 from a shaft f arranged externally of the chamber and driven by suitable pow r, the

transmission gearing being outside the chamber.

Theentrance of air during the action of the fans is eflected through lateral open-' lugs g. Opposite each fan radiators 71,, c', are arranged comprising disks, or heat radiating plates, the said radiators being heated by steam by means of a pipe connected to each of them. A. cock is is provided for regulating the supply of steam and consequently the degree of heat in the chamber, the interior temperature being indicated exteriorly by a thermometer Z.

llnspection doors m, n allow of ascertaining the progress of the drying operation. Evacuation of the products of evaporation is efl'ected through two orifices m, 11. arranged at the lower part of each of the longitudinal sides of the chamber,the two orifices at each side being connected exteriorly by the pipes 0 which are connected by vertical conduits p to a central pipe 1' conveying the products of evaporation outside. ]By making the outlets m W, at the lower part of the chamber the heavy air, that is to say, the most humid air is only evacuated.

The air saturated with moisture being ex pelled from the chamber by the operation of the fans, the question of density cannot prevent its evacuation, since during the operation of the apparatus the upper opening 0 be ing closed, it will be forcibly expelled through the lateral conduits p connected to the central conduit r. The air thus expelled is replaced by the outer air arriving through the opening 9 leading out at the center of the fan and which could not be thus submitted to the action of the vanes of the fan and passes freely into the chamber.

By the rotary movement of the fans, the air is agitated in all directions and perfect rying is obtained, which is rapid and equal throughout the capacity of the chamber The products to be dried can consequently be placed at any height in the chamber, so that the substances or articles to be dried can be placed on frames 9 mounted on wheels 9 shown in dotted lines or on other carriages which can be introduced into the chamber and withdrawn when drying is complete. The apparatus illustrated is shown containing two carriages, but it may be constructed to take a larger or smaller number.

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ing nonworking, the air saturated with moisture freed by the evaporation could not be conducted to the exterior through the ipes p and 1 but if the orifice 9 serving l br the supply of air during working is closed, and the bung c is opened, the hot air passing out through this orifice, cold air Will be drawn through the pipe 1- thus' following, but in the contrary direction, the same path as the air, evacuated during working. This cold air willconsequently traverse the products being dried, from below upward and will escape through the bung 0 thereby carrying out with it the moisture as it is disengaged. Since after stopping the introduction of steam into the radiators, the temperature remains high for a long time in the chamber by reason of its insulated walls,

the drying will continue under good conditions and 'for gum pastils in particular their deterioration would not have to be feared by reason of the adherence of the starch powder. 7

The improved drying chamber is principally intended for use in the manufacture ofconfectionery and in particular in the manufacture of gum lozenges and other pastils requiring drying. It can however be equally well employed for drying any other products. By reason of its insulated sides a high degree of temperature can be maintained and the temperature is equal throughout the chamber. The ap paratus requires little expense for heating and can be easily displaced. Several chambers can be juxtaposed and their fans driven by means-of the same shaft.

What I claim as my intention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. Drying apparatus comprisim in combination a chamber having an air inlet, heating elements disposed in said chamber and fans disposed therein adapted to force air over said heating elements, said fans being positioned ,at opposite sides of said chamber and having a diameter or range of action, substantially equal to the height of said chamber.

2. Drying apparatus comprising in combination a chamber, heating elements disposed therein, rotary fans disposed in said chamber adapted to force air over said heating elements, said fans having bearings in the wall of said chamber at opposite sides thereof, and having a diameter or range of action substantially equal to the height of said chamber and means for inlet of air to said chamber positioned adjacent the bearings for said fans.

3. Drying. apparatus comprising in combination a chamber, having means for inlet of air through its walls, heating elements disposed in said chamber, fans disposed in said chamber adapted to force air over said heating elements, said fans being positioned at opposite sides of said chamber and having a diameter or range of action substantially equal to the height of said chamber and means at the lower part of the chamber for evacuation of products of evaporation therefrom.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JEAN JACQUES FERNAND BALES.

\Vitnesses H. TAILLRY, Var. 1. SIIOCKLEY. 

